|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:47 am
I collect books on myth, legend and occult (makes for great references for writing and drawing). I have vampire, shapeshifter and witchcraft encyclopedias... I have a book or two on ghosts too... but good collections on faerie folk seem few and far between... Any ideas? I am still waiting for an encyclopdia for the fey... Any story collections? Field Guides? I know there's a good faeries/bad faeries by Brian Froud, but I'm looking for something a little more traditional.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:45 pm
Ooh, excellent topic! 5 points to you! razz
Hmm, let's see, Fantasy Encyclopedia by Judy Allen is good with lovely illustrations. (My edition even has a foreward by Jonathan Stroud!) It contains a bit of everything: elves, vampires, wizards, etcetera.
For dragons, my personal favourite is Dragonology. It's part of the "Ology" encyclopedic series that includes Wizardology, Egyptology, and Piratology. I have them all, but I don't have the newest one, Monsterology, yet. I've got to buy that...
Oh! Don't forget The Sorcerer's Companion by Kronzck. It was made as a guide to give backgrounds about creatures included in Harry Potter, but it's not necessary at all to be an HP fan to appreciate the information. There's loads of obscure creatures in it because Rowling admits to not inventing ANY of the mythical beasts in her works. The Sorcerer's Companion shares the original legends pertaining to fantastic animals rarely studied/included in fantasy books, such as gryndylows, doxies, hinkypunks, hippogryffs, and veelas. The classics, like boggarts and werewolves, are in there too.
Do you want one on JUST fairies? Fantasy Encyclopedia and The Sorcerer's Companion have some good information, but they aren't exclusively about fey. Actually, I've never seen one that's only about them. Sorry about that, though I hope that you find these helpful.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Minerva the Bookwyrm Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 8:05 pm
You know minverva it kinda funny when I read the first post I though of the books I had seen on the subject you no!! You knowDragonology and such! But good luck with the search for books! smile razz
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 12:11 pm
Have you the Sword of Truth books? I want them so badly, I can't find them anywhere!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:08 pm
Well, I don't have all of these, but I have browsed through them in the library and plan to buy them. lol I'm not sure exactly what kind of fairies you're after.. each guide is a little different, but here is a variety for you to pick from. ^ ^ Hopefully you find something to your liking!
The Fairy Bible: The Definitive Guide to the World of Fairies by Teresa Moorey
(lots of pretty pictures and eye candy)
A Complete Guide to Faeries & Magical Beings: Explore the Mystical Realm of the Little People by Cassandra Eason
(A more comprehensive literary compilation of myths and evidence/origins of fairies, it's an interesting read! One theory is that they are fallen angels, which is supposed to explain their mischievous nature. It's just one of the many theories in this book. It's a pleasant read and makes the wheels in your head turn.)
A Field Guide to Irish Fairies by Bob Curran and Andrew Whitson
(This one is my personal favorite, since I prefer the creepy and original mischievous Irish fairies to the new fluffy cute sprites. lol)
The World Guide to Gnomes, Fairies, Elves & Other Little People by Thomas Keightley
(This is actually a really neat little book. It's full of background lore and legend and the section about gnomes was particularly interesting. Not a lot of eye candy, but that's why I liked it. My imagination is always better. lol)
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Elves and Fairies by Sirona Knight
(While a little bit silly, lol, this guide was enjoyable to read and a really good introduction to the concept of fairies).
Out of all of these, the only one I personally own is the Field Guide to Irish Fairies. The other ones I've only flipped through in the Barnes and Noble and checked out from the local library. Though.. if I can catch them on sale, that will change. lol
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 9:53 am
Ooh, Cricket, a few of those look good. I agree; give me ancient, powerful faeries over cute, fluttery ones that help the princess anytime!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Minerva the Bookwyrm Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 4:06 pm
Thanks! Sometimes I spend hours in that section of Barnes and Noble I get so distracted! lol
I don't think a lot of people realize that fae aren't exactly... nice... lol
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 5:08 pm
I've spent hours in Barnes and Noble. Once when I was ten, my mom let me loose, and I got so sucked into a book, that I stayed and actually finished the book. My mom got really mad because I was there for about four hours.
And I like the older, powerful fairies way more then I like puff balls of cute.
For myths, and Irish folklore, The Sevenwaters trilogy, and Heir to Sevenwaters are really, really good.
I don't really know any about fairies, but Juliet Marillier does a fantastic work of writing Irish folklore. And also I heard Marion Zimmer Bradley is really good.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 6:42 pm
Try Irish Folk and Fairy Tales(at least it's something pretty similar) by W. B. Yeats. Yeah, THE Yeats. It's simply a collection of local folk tales, primarily about the Good Neighbors. Apparently he was really into that sort of thing.
And no, real fae aren't in fact particularly cute and fluffy. I blame the Victorians for that conceit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
